1. 1623
2. They carry in-season styles
3. Less than 5%
4. Yes.
5. The differences are that Marshall’s has an expanded shoe and juniors department, as well as a broader men’s selection.

Tie-breaker: Make sure clothes are put away. Oftentimes, I find myself tripping over clothing that has been thrown on the ground, and I feel that this diminishes my shopping experience. I also think that a quick hello to all shoppers woudl make them feel welcome in the stores.

Okay, here are my attempts answering these questions. These are all just guesses, and I did not try to research my answers on the internet first.

1. 800 stores
2. Both.
3. 0%
4. Yes
5. Hmmm….TJ MAXX offers deeply discounted clothes, while Marshalls has a specific line of clothes that is not discounted until sale season. (??)

As for improving their store…sometimes I don’t shop at places like Ross and TJX, because I don’t know what I’m going to find there. If they could communicate what is in their store during a particular week perhaps through an email, that would be very helpful. For example, “We just received a shipment of Esprit wool coats in sizes 2 to 16. We’re selling them this week for $45.” Or something like that.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed for that gift card!

love,
m!

Fun!

1. There are about 1700 stores across the country.
2. 85% of the merchandise is current season and 15% is past season which again is clearly marked.
3. Less than 5% of merchandise is irregular and is always clearly marked.
4. They most certainly do! Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Moschino, Vera Wang, Michael Kors, Nanette Lepore, Catherine Malandrino, Theory and many brands of designer jeans.
5. T. J. Maxx hcarries more luxury and designer brands (especially women’s) and jewelery, while Marshalls has a line especially for 18-25 (The Cube), more Men’s fashion and sport apparel.

Suggestion: To me, the worst thing I can find when I go to this type of store is a huge mish-mash of items. If I have to hunt stuff down and dig through sections where all different items are mixed I get tired more quickly, I get frustrated and I end my shopping trip much more quickly. If things are reasonably well organized I stick around longer and buy way more!

Wow, it would certainly be great to win this, especially at this time.

Here are my answers:

1. T.J.Maxx has over 800 stores nationwide, it was 847 at at the end of 2007.
Marshalls had 776 stores at the end of 2007.

2. They carry in-season styles, a lot of them are literally the same ones you can find at the same time at the department stores.

3. Less than 5% of merchandise is irregular. The company says that sometimes merchants would mark perfectly good merchandise ‘irregular’ only to be able to sell it to T.J.Maxx!

4. Yes they do. Some stores have sections called “Runway at T.J. Maxx” where they are located.

5. Marshalls differentiates itself with expanded shoe and juniors departments,as well as a broader men’s selection. T. J. Maxx differentiates itself with expanded accessories departments and fine jewelry,.

Suggestions – I have a couple of them ( I know that they are not allowed to advertise many brands):

1. Please stock some small sizes. There are still people who wear 0, 2 and XS. A lot of college and graduate students wear these sizes and they usually are on small budget so would tend to shop at T.J. Maxx a lot if they could find things that fit them.

2. Better organization of the store, so things are easier to find, something similar to department stores, when brands are grouped together, or based on how classic or contemporary brands are.

OK, I’ll be holding my thumbs now

1. 861 TJ Maxx, 776 Marshalls
2. 85% current season, 15% last season
3. less than 5 %
4. yes
5. the only difference I can tell is that Marshalls carries more home items, and men’s shoes

Oops! I accidentally hit submit before I typed in my suggestions! Here they are:

1. The stores (at least in my area) need to be better organized. Most of the time, things are just shoved onto shelves or crammed together on the rack. I am not a “digger” so I usually don’t even look at the women’s clothes because it is too difficult to find what I am looking for.

2. On the same note, there needs to be more room between the racks. It is barely enough room for one person to stand there.

3. I would like for their return policy to extend past 30 days. I live in a small town and the closest TJ Maxx/Marshalls is 100 miles away. Needless to say, it is difficult to get back in time to make a return and if I buy an item as a gift it is nearly impossible for that person to return/exchange if necessary.

1. T.J.Maxx: 847 and Marshalls: 776 as of last year. Its on their website

2. Current season, just like regular stores!

3. Less than 5% of merchandise is irregular.

4. “Runway at T.J. Maxx” I’ve got one near me. LOVE IT.

5. TJ Maxx has the runway clothes in the earlier question, also expanded jewelery and accessories (purses!). Marshall’s has more Shoes (shoes!) and Junior and Men’s clothes. Marshall’s is also often paired with Home Goods. Therefore having a larger domestics section.

Suggestions – I’d want more large sizes. And I don’t shop in plus, but I know for a fact that my friends that do are very disappointed in the selection. Oh and love, love purse shopping at TJ’s I wish there was more of a range. They are either super cheap or super expensive. Some mid range brands would be great.

OK, pure guesses I have seen the commercials – here goes:

How many T. J. Maxx and Marshalls stores are there in the USA?
400
Does T. J. Maxx carry same-season merchandise, or do they offer low prices by selling items from the last season?
Same-season
What percentage of the T. J. Maxx merchandise is irregular?
None
Does T. J. Maxx offer couture brands?
Yes
What are the differences between T. J. Maxx and Marshalls? Hmm, Marshalls is more family oriented..?

Ok, I’ve never shopped there, but what I hate about most discount type stores are the dressing rooms. Make it a better experience, softer lighting, less intrusive security measures (less obvious to the consumer) and less bulky plastic security devices ( you know the ones that make it impossible to see how the clothes lie?)

Nancy

1. 1800
2. same season
3. 0%
4. Yes
5. Shoe Department at Marshall’s is more extensive and is layed out like the department stores.
6. At many of the stores, the lingere department is right next to another type of clothing that men and children browse – such as coats or shoes. I would like to see lingere place in a more secluded area that allows women to shop comfortably for their under garments.

1. 1578
2. They promise that 85% is in season
3.They say less than 5% is imperfect
4.Some stores have a high end boutique called Runway at Maxx
5.TJ Maxx carries shoes for women only/Marshalls for the whole family
TJ Maxx has a jewelry counter

Tie Breaker: I know that it would be hard but better organization of items. For example. All black sweaters together, all tote bags together. Or organize by brand. It is incredibly time consuming to go there if you are looking for a specific type of item(especially with children).

My TJ Maxx IQ answers:

1. 1623 stores at the end of 2007
2. over 85% is current season merchandise. Less than 15% is last season’s
3. Less than 5% is slightly irregular (which just means bigger savings for us)
4. TJ Maxx offers coutor designs through the Runway at Maxx at select stores (I think we have 2 in Houston).
5. Both are off-price retails stores, but Marshall’s offers a broader men’s delection and have expanded shoes and junior depatments.

6. Honestly right now, TJ Maxx is just awesome! Simple layout, love how they have eco freindly bags, and their merchandise has greatly improved over the years. Although some other off-retail stores may offer lower prices, by far TJ Maxx has better brands and merchandise. I

1. T. J. Maxx: > 861 stores
Marshalls: > 776 stores

2. Both. With non-fashion/trend-driven items T. J. Maxx may purchase the items and hold them until the appropriate season. 85% of the remaining is current-season merchandise.

3. Less than 5% is irregular.

4. According to a 2006 article in The Daily Herald, T . J. Maxx introduced couture brands in selected stores in a section called “Runway Maxx.”

5. Marshall’s has an expanded shoe (men’s, women’s, children’s) and juniors departments, and more men’s selection. T. J. Maxx has an expand accessories departments and fine jewelry.

Tie Breaker:

I suggest that they have their associates pay close attention to organization of clothing. It’s frustrating to browse through your size section, find something perfect and then realize it’s not actually your size and was out of place.

Depending on the store, dressing room sizes can also be an issue. More mirrors and better lighting there are always a plus.

1. 1,623, give or take a few.
2. Both, though they usually mark last season merchandise “last season”.
3. 5%
4. Yes, such as Juicy Couture and BCBG MAXAZRIA.
5. T. J. Maxx carries higher-end, more fashionable and trendy clothing. Marshalls carries slightly lower-end designers and is known for their shoe section, which is quite extensive and carries current and last season designs at a fraction of normal cost.

TIE-BREAKER: I would suggest that they have a larger number of open registers for ease of check-out and doors on the dressing rooms rather than curtains.

I see crossover merchandise, especially shoes, at some of the Loehmann’s. Are they the same company as Ross and TJ?

1. There are 847 TJ Maxxs and 776 Marshalls for a grand total of 1623 according to their investor website.
2. They consider themselves and off-price retailer carrying both current and last season selections. They purchase dept. stores canceled orders at a reduced rate and excess inventory.
3.Less then 5% (differs slightly by store)
4. Yes “Runway Maxx” at some stores but I have purchased the following brands personally – Kate Spade (sunglasses), Armani Exchange (sunglasses), Michael Kors (clothing), French Connection (clothes), Kenneth Cole (clothes, sunglasses, purses), BCBG (lots of dresses), Hobo International (purses), Juicy Couture (clothes and sunglasses) at both TJ Maxxx and Marshalls…
5. Marshalls differentiates itself with expanded shoe and juniors departments, as well as a broader men’s selection. While TJ Maxxx differentiates itself with expanded accessories departments and fine jewelry.

6. TIE BREAKER: 1. The racks need to be less stuffed…hard to get through them all. 2. I like the idea of the website (both stores) to be informed when items you are interested in arrive…however…I think a newsletter with suggestions of what might be available and great buys would be great. EX: Name brand clothing sends out a newsletter by mail with specials, coupons and ideas of what kind of merchandise they may be getting. I love it and I pin it up on the bulletin board til I get the next one. 3. COUPONS and special deals for regular shoppers….or a frequent buyer card…. 4. Be careful of stocking the low quality “cheap” stuff…it sucks having to spend time on it. 5. Display and get more of the cosmetic/hair stuff/bath stuff, it is my favorite indulgence. 6. My boyfriend loves to cook and get cooking stuff for both but hates the disorganization and having to sort through broken and junky stuff.
That’s all I can think of for now…I am sure I will think of more later!

1.The Marshalls chain- operated 776 stores at the end of 2007
T.J. Maxx- operated 847 stores at the end of 2007

2.They carry latest fashions, such as Nine West items, but they also keep last season’s items and mark them separately.

3.Less than 5% is slightly irregular.

4.Yes, Nine West, Etienne Aigner, Via Spiga, and many more others. It does depend on a store. The one in my town doesn’t have a very nice selection:( I didnt see any “Runway Maxx” in Oklahoma yet….

5.With a product assortment similar to T.J. Maxx, Marshalls differentiates itself with expanded shoe and juniors departments, as well as a broader men’s selection.

TIE-BREAKER-
I have several suggestions:
1. More sizes… I am a petite size 0 or 00. I never see my sizes at either of the stores, so I never got into buying clothes there. I do love beauty and home sections. Please get some nice merchandise for smaller women like me:)

2. Organization! Maybe it is just my store…. But please get some testers in a Perfume and Beauty sections. My friend wanted to buy some Marc Jacobs perfume for her mom and and she didnt find a single un-opened, wrapped bottle. Many creams and body lotions are opened and leaking- the store is losing money on those. This problem could easily be avoided if testers were present. Beauty section is one that is the messiest as well, so sales associates need to organize it several times a day…

3. Customer service… My boyfriend loved shopping at TJ Maxx, until he had to make an exchange for a wrong size t-shirt (he had a receipt, and bought that shirt earlier that week) . Sales associate wasn’t very polite about it and in the end she threw his new t-shirt in a bag without folding it. The manager was standing right there and didnt say anything. Again, he probably would not have grabbed a wrong t-shirt but it was a size medium in a large size section- back to organization complaint!

I do love the store and hope that our suggestions will help the management. The concept is wonderful, and I am glad that another TJ Maxx had just opened close to my home!

1. +/- 1800 stores between both
2. 85% is current season merchandise; 15% is last season’s
3. Less than 5%
4. Sure they do – have bought a couple of things there!!
5. Both are off-price retails stores. TJ sells more luxury and designer brands accesories & jewelery. Marshalls on th other hand, offers an amazing shoe department, more junior’s & men’s fashion, more sport apparel as well as more home stuff.

Tie Breaker: have a better organization, sometimes in some stores, everything is kind of messed up, and at times I feel at Ross, which I really don’t like due to this.

Having an on-line warehouse inventory. I was once in TX (I live in FL) ad wanted to buy some chairs, but it was going t be VERY difficult. I aked if those chairs were available in Miami and was told that the don’t have national inventory access, so no one knows what some other store has. This will be a MAJOR improvement!!

C.

1. 1623 at the end of 2007, and they’ve opened more stores since.
2. Same season merchandise!
3. Less than 5%.
4. Yep! The couture section is in the front of my store.
5. Marshall’s has a broader shoes and men’s department than TJ Maxx. The TJ Maxx stores I’ve encountered have larger home decor sections than the one Marshall’s I’ve been to, and more fine jewelry.

Tiebreaker: Things I think would improve the shopping experience at both stores:
- More small sizes would help. Even the petites section leaves me with maybe two pairs of jeans to choose from, and anyone who’s shopped for jeans knows that that the likelihood of finding a pair of jeans that fits in a stack of two is basically nil.
- Marshall’s is very well organized, but I sometimes find myself going in circles in T.J. Maxx even though I’ve actually been to that store more often. The whole “juniors”/”misses”/”women” thing is very confusing, especially since each section is sort of plonked down wherever there’s room. So if I’ve just tried on shirts in the misses section towards the middle back of the store and I want to go check out the sweaters on sale, I need to go alllll the way to the front … and then I want to check out what else in the misses section is on sale, and I need to zigzag back! And let’s just forget about wanting to go to the junior section because then I just get lost.
- As someone with some chronic health issues, may I recommend some discreetly placed chairs throughout the store, maybe a water cooler or two? (I know at least one of the local Marshall’s/TJM has chairs near the front of the store, but I don’t remember which.) Being able to sit down, regroup and relax would keep me less stressed, and being less stressed means I’ll buy more stuff, so it’s good for both the store and me.

Well I’m loving a contest, so below are my answers and how I found out (the number of stores was the trickiest!!)

1) Well, this one is hard. The T.J. Maxx website says they operate “more than 861 stores in 48 states. (http://www.tjmaxx.com/fact_sheet.asp)” [quoted from: http://www.tjmaxx.com/fact_sheet.asp. That answer wasn’t good enough for me so I called their media relations dept. as well as customer care to see if I can get a more specific answer. Since they are constantly opening new stores (and sometimes closing stores), their PR folks are very reluctant to give out numbers other than what’s published on the website. One number I heard was 947, though this might include their distribution centers. It is probably safe to say that the actual number is around 900 at this time. Marshall’s PR rep was more forth coming and checked her database for me, calling me back w/in minutes to say that they have over 775 stores (in 42 states plus Puerto Rico).

2) Yes, T. J. Maxx carries “Over 85% current season merchandise. Less than 15% are classic staple items bought at the end of the season and packed away for next season. (ie: basic jeans, white turtlenecks)” [quoted from: http://www.tjmaxx.com/fact_sheet.asp

3) “Less than 5% of T.J. Maxx’s merchandise is slightly irregular with flaws usually unnoticeable to the customer. Irregulars provide a tremendous opportunity for the customer to receive additional savings and value. All irregular merchandise is clearly identified on the price tag.” [quoted from: http://www.tjmaxx.com/fact_sheet.asp

4) I believe no, as “couture” is referring to high-end designer wear shown on runways. They do carry “ready to wear” designer labels, though.

5) The stores are similar in that they both are off-price retailers that target “the middle- to upper-middle-income shopper, who is fashion and value conscious and fits the same profile as a department or specialty store shopper”. But “With a product assortment similar to T.J. Maxx, Marshalls differentiates itself with expanded shoe and juniors departments, as well as a broader men’s selection.” [quoted from http://www.tjx.com/businesses_marshalls.asp

Suggestions for improvements:

I’ve never been to T.J. Maxx but I tried out a Marshall’s store (the one in Southcenter), and my evaluation –now that I read more about the company per above- is that the “feel” of the store is incongruent with the customer target definition they have (per above.) The store looks more “downscale” to me than a “middle-to upper-middle income department or specialty store shopper” is used to or likes. So as an improvement and to attract more shoppers in that category, I’d increase the space between racks (the store seems cramped), soften the lighting, invest in bigger dressing rooms, and overall increase the “attractiveness” of the store. This will also keep shoppers in the stores longer.

As a bonus, I’ll offer some thoughts on the online T.J. Maxx site, which I test-drove today: I don’t understand why they don’t offer more information about their wares online. Even if they don’t create a full-blown shopping site, there would be ways to make the website both more informative and more welcoming, and it could do more for them in terms of attracting potential shoppers. For instance, why not annotate their slideshow (e.g. if you go to the “Ladies” tab) with product/brand/price information? Another big issue is that they require registration on their site for you to view product alerts, info on what designers they carry etc. This is not good marketing. It has been proven that you lose lots of folks who browse a site during the registration process, especially if the registration does not seem related to the browser’s goals (e.g. if it’s not related to checkout/payment or signing up for deals) and it seems so very unnecessary in this case, where you just want to get basic info about the store/wares. The registration (me giving T. J. Maxx my email address) benefits them, but does not make anything easier or more interesting for me as the customer, and it actually turns customers off and away. Making their site more open would go a long way towards attracting potential shoppers.

1. There are 847 TJ Maxx and 776 Marshalls stores in the U.S, totalling 1,623 US stores.

2. TJ Maxx carries both past season and in season merchandise. Past-Season merchandise is always marked as such on the tag.

3. Less than 5% of the merchandise can be deemed “irregular”, but in most cases the irregularities are not noticeable to the average eye.

4. Yes you can find “couture” brands at TJ Maxx.

5. a.) Marshalls carries mens and children shoes. TJ Maxx only carries women shoes.
b.) TJ Maxx carries fine jewelry (like 14 k gold and gemstones). Marshalls only carries costume jewelry.
c.) Marshalls has an expanded junior department, and a broader men’s department, compared to TJ Maxx.
d.) TJ Maxx has an expanded accessories department.

Tie Breaker Question:

For simplicity sake, I’ll keep my suggestions in list form.

1. Floor Assistants who can start a dressing room, or make suggestions on shoes that go with a certain outfit, or scarf that goes with a coat. Even help in picking out gifts (my husband could use this service, that’s for sure!)

2. Upgraded dressing rooms. Maybe a little larger, a little more modern, and doors that are more secure.

****Angie, I’m glad you enjoyed the TJX event. In this economy, more and mroe people will be shopping at off-price stores, and I’m thrilled that you will be able to offer your clients and friends some guidance in this area.

1. Store count – TJ Maxx – 861, Marshalls – 776 (end of 2007)

2. 85% are current season

3. Less than 5% are irregular

4. Yes, T. J. Maxx offers couture brands?

5. Differences between T. J. Maxx and Marshalls? Marshalls differentiates itself with expanded shoe and juniors departments, as well as a broader men’s selection.

Suggestions to improve the shopping experience:
Customer’s option of quality of the product is partially derived by the presentation of the product and look and feel of the store. Take Starbucks, for example. They just sell good coffee – a commodity. Yet, it is the experience that you purchase. The stores should be clean and tidy. Broken items should be removed. The perception of quality for everything diminishes when there are broken items on the shelves. Wrinkled clothing gives the impression of being less than clean. The product should not be so crowded on the shelves or racks that it is difficult to “treasure hunt.” Friendly and engaging staff always improves the experience.

1. store count: 826 Marshalls: 751
2. 85% current season merchandise, their off price retailers, so they use opportunistic buying
3. only 5% is irregular
4. yes, 43 stores have a runway dept.
5. both are off price retailers-
marshalls offers a family footwear megashop, has a larger men’s dept with suits and sports coats, and has “the cube” a contemporary boutique that offers contemporary labels
tj maxx has an emphasis on ladies footwear, has the runway section in 43 stores, and a jewelry, watches, and sunglasses dept.

Tiebreaker: i think the stores are taking on an incredible initiative of finally reaching their target audience- fashion savvy women, who enjoy hunting for their finds and are very budget conscious. I’ve been reading about their initiatives everywhere, and i think i’m ready to visit a store for the first time (though i need to figure out where to find one). i think the stores have the potential of rivaling century 21 and loehmann’s if they do their advertising right and learn how to take advantage of the wares they already sell! i hear their organization isn’t too great, but i think this can be overcome with simply by finding how to reach the right customer- sample sales and other off price retailers aren’t too well organized either (i’m thinking of filene’s and century21), but it’s never stopped them from getting the word out there and being an amazing place to hunt for treasure!

1. There are more stores than I thought. T.J.Maxx: 847 and Marshalls: 776 , its on their website. I have only been to Marshalls. I don’t know where I would find a TX Maxx. I will check the web.
2. They both carry the same-season merchandise, however I have noticed there are some things that appear to be from a year ago but still are “in”
3. What percentage of the T. J. Maxx merchandise is irregular? It is very small, less than 10%.
4. Does T. J. Maxx offer couture brands? Yep, many of them I havn’t even heard of, however I am now going to check it out.
5.0 What are the differences between T. J. Maxx and Marshalls? It appears they have a similar business model and they are both worth checking out.

Oh, I forgot the tie breaker:

I found Marshalls clothes to be difficult to find in the store. While I enjoy finding “home” treasures, I am very turned off by the closeness of the racks and their organization. My main suggestion would be to change the way they display clothing. Make two tiered racks. Having the whole floor “open” creates a Goodwill store feel. Having the different layers would create interest and would give a reason to enter to look for treasures, especially if they put some outfits together. They are also very lacking on displays. I am a shopper who needs a little suggestion to put together something. They also need to widen the spacing between the clothing racks. If two people can’t pass, I feel most people would not want to spend time in the isle looking for items to spend money on.

1. There are 826 TJ Maxx stores, 751 Marshalls, for a total of 1577.
2. TJ Maxx carries same-season merchandise. They are able to buy directly from the manufacturers and can therefore sell the merchandise at the same time as other stores.
3. Only around five percent of the TJ Maxx inventory is irregular.
4. TJ Maxx does offer couture brands in stores containing a “Runway” department.
5. Marshalls offers some expanded departments and some departments that TJ Maxx does not have (men’s shoes).

Tie-breaker
I have found some great deals on very nice clothes at TJ Maxx. However, I had to work to find those bargains. At department stores, one finds clothes grouped by brand, then by type (shirt) then by style (hoodie sweater). If I walked into Macy’s and wanted a red Tommy hoodie sweater, I would know where to look. At TJ Maxx the groupings are far broader. The clothes are rarely grouped by designer or style. Instead, the shopper is greeted by an overwhelmingly long stretch of tops or bottoms. Today’s shopper often does not have the time or inclination to sort through hundreds of items to find what they’re looking for. Having great deals on nice clothes is wonderful. However, if a shopper can’t find what she’s looking for, the company loses money.

Hi Angie,
Great event! I am obsessed with good deal and have been a TJMaxx semi-pro especially in college years.

1. total 1637—-T. J. Maxx: 861 Marshalls: 776 stores
2. Both: more than 85% of items are same-season merchandise, and less than
15% of them items are “classic staples” from season before. (well since it is
classic, it is almost like same season items)
3. technically less than 5%. But usually they are unnoticeable to the customers.
(so it is great bargain! and it is marked as irregular as well.)
4. Yes it does! The same couture brands department store offers.
5. T.J. Maxx has shoe assortment for woman and fine jewery while Marshalls
offer a full-line footwear department and larger men’s department.

Suggestions: I love TJMaxx but there are several things that could be improved….
Have some nice music which makes fun to shop. (I think it is essential to be in the mood for shopping)
Brighter lights so that you can see the items well.
Post a map of the store more frequently withing the store ( I get lost really easily).
Have more full length mirrors so we don’t have to go all the way to the end of the store with full of items to just see how it looks.
Provide some carts so our hands won’t fall off because of too many items.
Have some mannequins with clothes to suggest how you could wear your items. (I think, it will give more feel of “department store” and fancyness”)
It could give a list of couture brand that you guys have in the store: I think many people don’t know about how many nice brand TJMaxx have.

1. 847 TJ Maxx + 776 Marshalls = 1,623 Stores. (Currently however, TJX operates a total of 2,041 stores if you include the AJ Wright(129), and Home Goods(289) Stores along with my above listed total.:))

2. Over 85% of the stock within store is the current season items, with less than 15% of “classic staple items” bought and packed away for next season.

3. Less than 5% of TJ Maxx Merchandise is irregular.

4. TJ Maxx carries couture brands such as Prada, Valentino and Roberto Cavalli at stores containing a specialty section known as The Runway, and as of January 1st, 2008, 43 TJ Maxx stores contain this section.

5.The differences between TJ Maxx and Marshalls are such: Marshalls offers an ever expanding selection of Mens Wardrobe items, Shoes, and Junior Items whereas TJ Maxx has expanded accessories and fine jewelry departments. They do have similar business models, but it seems as though Marshalls offers a more complete “family” shopping experience.

Tie Breaker:

I think it would be very helpful if the aisles within the rows of clothing could be made wider so that more than one customer can comfortably peruse the racks, especially when shopping with a cart. Additionally, brand name items could be organized together, rather than by endless racks of clothing divided by size. More mirrors and better lighting, especially in the fitting rooms would be helpful. A larger variety of styles in the Mens Shoes section would be a wonderful thing to see for my husband’s shopping needs! Probably the most important improvement for me would be adding additional styles and brands of toddlers (especially boys) clothing beyond the velour track suits and Ralph Lauren Polos.

1. 1623 at the end of 2007
2. Same season merchandise
3. Less than 5%.
4. Yes
5. Marshall’s has a broader shoes and men’s department than TJ Maxx. I would say TJ Maxx is nicer than Marshall’s – that was long my impression. But now I live betweeen two different Marshall’s in two different towns, and the merchandise is vastly different at each. One has much more upscale merch and is very nice, with fresh designer shipments weekly, clearly marked, and kept neatly organized; the other is way more downscale, with different brands (many of them pretty shoddy), and very disorganized and cramped. So I think it all depends on where the store is located.

Tie-Breaker:
Let me start by saying that I think both stores are meant to be disorganized, because that makes you think you are getting bargain. You’re not in a department store; if you were, you’d be paying higher prices! And not knowing what is going to be in the store, encourages you to drop by more often, because you never know. You quickly learn that the newest shipments are right in front. If you stop by frequently (weekly), you only have to hit those caurosels and not weed through the racks.

With that said, I would improve:

1) More petites in sizes 00, 0, 2. I’m dubious this is possible, since there isn’t that much to choose from in department petites either – but one can ask.

Will add kudos for having the sizes clearly marked on the color-coded hangers! That makes it very easy for me to find my size.

2) Sturdier shopping carts. Over a decade ago, when shopping with my then-preschoolers, the cart tipped over. They haven’t changed the carts in all those years. Kids should NOT be put in those carts. They are completely unsafe.

However, when you are shopping with little kids in tow, you have to put them in a cart or stroller or *something* – because if you don’t, well, I once had my daughter bolt on me… I couldn’t find her for a few heart-stopping moments: she crawled underneath the racks!!! So if you want moms to shop for a long time, make it more mom-friendly. Perhaps those carts that look like cars, like they have at the grocery store? Wider aisles to accomodate strollers? How about a play area in the dressing room? And special parking spots for moms with infants? This is one area I think needs more clever thinking. You want mom in there for hours shopping for the whole family, not just herself. She may have to bring young kids.

3) There’s always a line-up of carts near the dressing room, because people (and I do this myself!) load the cart up, but then you can only take in 8 items at a time. So they allow you to leave the rest in a cart outside. But the aisle to the dressing room gets cluttered with carts, and you can’t get to those racks at all. There has to be a better system (and no, it is not banning people from using carts… it’s laborious, in a store that size, to go back and forth to the dressing room carrying only 8 items at a time… if I wasn’t allowed to load up a cart, I wouldn’t bother to shop there). So maybe just make that aisle bigger, or have a designated “cart corral” near the dressing room?

4) My number one pet peeve: while I actually don’t mind if the store is disorganized and even a little dirty (it’s part of the whole “bargain shopping” experience”), I cannot stand dirty dressing rooms!! At every store, there is usually a layer of dust bunnies all over the floor. And not enough hooks, and the little ledge thing is not big enough to pile on my own clothes, purse, coat.

If your intention is to have upscale shoppers, well, I’m sorry, but I do not want to take off my nice clothes and have them laying on a dirty dusty floor. Yuck. So keep those dressing room floors neat as a pin, and add more hooks. (Often you’ll end up in a dressing room with broken hooks). Respect the clothes I walked in wearing, and maybe I will buy more at your store!

1. 846 TJ Maxx plus 776 Marshalls, plus 289 Home Goods stores.
2. they carry both in season and past season merchandise.
3. Less than 5% is irregular and marked as such.
4. Yes, Runway at TJ Maxx
5. Marshalls offers both an expanded shoe and juniors departments,and a more diversified men’s selection. T. J. Maxx offers expanded accessories departments and fine jewelry.

Tie Breaker: I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been stuck inside a dressing room, praying for a sales person to help me get a different size. It would be a huge help to have a “personal shopper like person” who can come and go from the dressing room, offer suggestions and help fashion conscious women like myself who LOVE A BARGAIN, get the same type of customer service that the big department stores do. If they did this, there is absolutely no reason to shop anywhere else, current season clothing, great prices and excellent customer service. Wake me up…I’m dreaming!!!!

There were 847 TJ Maxx stores, 776 Marshalls stores, and 289 HomeGoods stores in the US at the end of the 2007 fiscal year.
They sell primarily same-season merchandise.
Less than 5% of TJ Maxx’s merchandise is irregular.
They sell couture brands like Juicy Couture, Prada, and Dolce & Gabana.
TJ Maxx only sells women’s shoes, while Marshalls has shoes for the whole family. TJ Maxx has a jewelry counter in each store, while Marshalls focuses much more space on home goods.
Suggestions: I would make sure that the racks have enough clothing on them to appear full but NOT so much that when you remove one item three other items cling to it because the hangers and tags are all crossed together. My biggest issue at either TJ Maxx or Marshalls is that when it is crammed to the max with merchandise, I leave much faster than if the store is full but not bursting. I realize that customers can’t shop the merchandise when it’s in the back room, but they won’t shop it if it’s all thrown out on the racks like a rack explosion. I would also increase the amount of turnover in the shoe departments. I’m a regular shopper and purchase shoes on probably 1 in every 3 visits. If there was a bigger selection/faster turnover, I would definitely be purchasing more.

This just in (from the Marshall’s PR folks): there are exactly 807 Marshalls stores open as of today. I don’t think I can edit my response above, but maybe this little amendment will be considered

1. At the end of 2007 there was 847 T.J. Maxx stores and 776 Marshall stores. But now there are 807 Marshall stores and around 850 T.J. Maxx stores in November 2008. They expand very conservativly.

2.They are 85% same season and 15% classic staple clothing. They are able to keep costs down because they buy close to need, are lean on inventory, great relationships with buyers and aggressive inventory management.

3. less than 5% of clothing are irregular.

4. Yes they do offer couture brands.

5. T.J. Maxx must buy close to need is rapidly changing and is able to offer more variety in lines of clothes (brands). Marshalls offers a much broader selection of footwear, accessories, juniors, infants, shoes, women, home fashions, menswear, lingerie, family apparel, and offers a specific line of clothes.

6. I think one small improvement would be to reward frequent shoppers with discount coupons. Although this is small but is shows customer appreciation. The new layout has finally taken care of the out of control long lines, thank you.

Who was the winner of this quiz?

Such fabulous responses! Thanks for the efforts and informed suggestions. We’ll announce the winner after Thanksgiving.

Sooooooo …… it’s after Thanksgiving…. has the winner been announced yet? I’m dying to know whot the lucky girl is!

[...] Corey! You win the $250 T.J. Maxx and Marshalls gift voucher. You were a clear winner so we didn’t need to use the tie-breaker question, but the [...]